Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-09


more explicit. From what he knew about
} her he did not think she was likely tC
raise hopes which would not he fulfilled
But how could she explain anything
He wrote 10 Eric, As Edith had desired
and received prompt reply by telegraph
saying that he should be in Swarfton that
night Eric saw John Pawson; but John
could not explain anything.
We must wait till Edith comes, Eric, -
he said, and you must not see her except
in my presence Lumley and Moss will
not miss "a chance"
Eric consented He met Lumley and
Moss the next day, and these two worthless
seemed 0fterward 10 be in better spirits
than usual
To be or not Ia be'' said Lumley.
That's the question" replied Moss
H.
Edith Markham could not remember
either her father or mother. Her mother
was dead, and her father WAS married
again, and lived abroad. That was all
the information vouchsafed her
Among Mr.. Burtonfurd's papers was
one which was addressed TO Edith, in the
bankers handwriting, with this instruc-
ton: To be given her at my death, but
if that should happen before she is 81 she
must keep this without opening it until
tina; time. Ii is about her mother and
father. and she need be in no hurry to
learn the particulars.
/ She was 10 when her uncle died and
the eXecutors-John Pawson and Bards-
ley. the solicitor, gave the paper 10 her,
according to the instructions which the
dead man had left.
There is a good deal Of writing there, ="
I said John, Would you like to keep il.
or shall take care of it for You until you
are 2l:''
Edith thanked him, but kept it herself
The strange misfortune which had hap
pened 10 Eric. and the death Of her aunt,
then the death of her uncle. had crushed
her spirit. She could not help wondering
whether her mother had been also un-
happy. But she placed the paper In her
desk, and gave herself over TO sad
thoughts. When could the mystery con
cerning Eric be cleared up Cleared up
il must be she felt sure. Then she read
a note from him which he had sent to her
al the time of the trouble:
MY DEAR EDITH: There is a terrible
mistake somewhere, but my uncle is sure
10 discover it, and he will be very sorry. /
might have turned ont my pockets to
pacify him, but had all your sweet little
letters with me, and he would have recog-
niZed the writing. That would have
made him very angry. shall go TO Lon
don, To Radburn's, and try what l can do
at painting. My sister Rose will hear
from me constantly.
Ever your own, ERIC"
R&dburn was an artist. He had often
spoken encouraging words to Eric. and
tried to prevail ON him to give himself up
t. art
The years passed away, and Edith did
not see Eric. The discovery which was
tu cleaf him was not made. Still, Edith
did not doubt him. From Rose she heard
about his welfare, and that was all. She
set herself 10 wonder and to wait. III
Eric had presented himself she would have
risked the loss of fortune, but he kept 81
lent and aloof; SO she could only shut up
her sorrow in her heart, and pray for pa
thence TO endure it. She kept III the old I
house and had for companion the widow
Of a clergyman, whom John Pawson |
recommended.
day in Scotland. and il WAS immediately |
afterward that she wrote the letter asking |
for an interview with Eric.
worked hard in London, and his friends !
spoke favorably of his chances in the keen |
competition of art. He told Radburu !
about his quarrel with his uncle and the |
cause of it, and enjoyed the honest SYM
pathy Of Il true friend. But this Eric was
not the Eric Of yore. He had q sad look,
and went about the work of life as if his
heart was broken. His uncle's cruel will |
was a sad blow to him, and he resolved
that unless his name was cleared he would
not see Edith again. He never forgot her
birthday. His sister Rose had written To
say that she was away, and he WAS Won
dering where i'll Scotland she was visiting,
and what kind of birthday she had spent,
when John Pawson's letter came. 1t was
like the sight of the journeys end to
weary pilgrim. Eric did not realize before
how much he had been suffering, and for
the first time since his sorrow began he
wept bitterly.
The interview was TO take place in John
private room at the bank Eric
was there long before the time appointed,
and the two men chltted about various
subjects until Edith came 1t was a
strange meeting for these two, who had
not seen each other for three years. John
PawsOn could not help watching them,
and he saw the light of love in their eyes,
and knew what the end would be, whether
the proofs Were satisfactory or not.
Now TO business" said John, placing
4 chair for Edith by the side Of his table
and seating himself. Eric sat near her
and gazed wistfully into her face.
First of all, can You tell me the num-
Ders Of those notes which disappeared!'
Edith asked.
Certainly" was Johns reply. 81 have
had the book brought in on purpose, and
here it is, opened at the right place" He
10 the open page and told her the
aumbers.
Then Edith opened small sachel which
The had brought with her and took from
{ two packets. The men watched her
With breathless attention; but she calmly
placed the sachei on the ground beside her
md then laid the larger packet on the
table IL was roll of manuscripts, tied
With a string. The other packet she
opened and produced three bank notes.
These are three notes for $50 each"
she said, ''and the numbers are the
same
"Where did You find them," John and
Eric asked together.
Inside that roll of manuscript" she
replied.
What manuscript is it,'' John Pawson
asked.
1T is the paper which my uncle left for
me, - said Edith, and which was not TO
open until | reached the age of ol. Ii was
written by my mother, but toward the
end there are several pages which my
uncle added. My mother was not happy.
/ think. from what have read there, that
my uncle loved her very much at one
time; but she preferred my father, and
married him She did not live long, but
died when was baby. Then my father
married somebody else, and l am afraid
he received a considerable amount OF
money from my uncle. But he died three
years ago, though l did not know at the
time. On the very day when Eric's
trouble came my uncle received news OF
my fathers death, and an abusive letter
from the widow saving that his debts